Women Were Pioneers of Flight

Behind heavy glass at the Oakland Aviation Museum, black-and-white photos offer glimpses of planes, hangars and runways connected to Oakland history and what today is Oakland International Airport. The pictures also show pilots.

The name under a few images is Amelia Earhart.

The name of the aviator, who made record-setting flights that started or ended here and is among the most famous names in aviation, is also on a handful of street signs on a stretch of road that parallels the old runway. But beyond that you won’t see that name much in — or on — the airport and its terminals.

Oakland International isn’t alone.

There are national and international airports in the United States named for presidents, generals, members of Congress, aviators, civil rights activists, mayors, governors, hotel magnates, a city manager, actors, war heroes, a jazz musician, a secretary of state, a comedian and a guy who owned a fur company.